Crop stripper for rotary rakes



June 16, 1953 c. B. RICHEY CROP STRIPPER FOR ROTARY RAKES "my H a 2 M m T a r w. v a A m 5/ N 1 N I.

Flled Dec 5]. 1949 2&0

June 16, 1953 I c. RICHEY 2,641,895

CROP STRIPPER FOR ROTARY RAKES Filed Deb. 31, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORA/[V June 16, 1953 c, B, RICHEY 2,641,895

CROP STRIPPER FOR ROTARY RAKES F11 ed Dec. 31, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

(M/awe: a. R/Cl/') ATTOR/Vfy I June 16, 1953 c. B. RICHEY CROP STRIPPER FOR ROTARY RAKES 4 Sheets-She et 4 Filed Dec. 31, 1949 m. a a M e A a provide an Patented June 16, 1953 CROP STRIPPER Foa ROTARY RAKES Clarence B. Richey, Royal Oak, Mich, assignor to Dearborn Motors Corporation, Park, Micln, a corporation of Delaware Highland Application December 31, 1949, Serial No. 136,305

Claims. ((156-377) This invention relates to a cro stripper for crop handling implements and more particularly I for side delivery rakes.

Side delivery rakes are widely used today for raking mown hay or grain from the swath and delivering it to one side in a windrow for curing and subsequent gathering. On the whole, side delivery rakes perform satisfactorily insofar as the rakingis concerned. All of such rakes, how

7 ever, have one major shortcoming in that the hay strippers heretofore utilized to prevent the hay from being carried around by the rake tooth bars have not been too effective, resulting in clogging and binding of thermore, the hay strippers heretofore used with side delivery rakes frequently interfered with the raking teeth on the rake tooth bars causing either such teeth or the stripper to be bent or broken, as well as raising the operating noise of the hay the raking cylinder. Furrake to an objectionable level.

Accordingly, it is an objectof this inventionto improved crop stripper for a side delivery rake or similar implement, which efficiently strips the hay from the teeth of such rake without interference with the raking cylinder.

Another object of this invention is to provide a, durable and efficient crop stripper for a crop gathering implement which is rotatably mounted on the implement and power driven in timed relationship to th rotation of the'raking element of such implement.

A particular obj ect-of this invention is the provision of an economically manufacturable construction of ,a rotatable crop stripper.

The specific nature of this invention, as well as other objects and advantages thereof, will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the attached sheets of' drawings on which, by way of preferred example only, is

illustrated'one embodiment of this invention.

On the drawings:

Figure l is a plan view of a side delivery rake.

incorporating the crop stripper of this invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan view similar to Figure l but enlarged to illustrate the various features in greater detail.

Figure 3 is a crosssectional view taken along the plane 3-3 of Figure l.' a

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view taken along the plane 4-4 of Figure 1. r I

Figure 5 is a sectionalview taken on theplane 5-5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a schematic front view of the raking cylinder and the crop stripper showingthe angu-x ,lar axis relationship of ,of the line 5- of Figure 2.

Figure 8 is an enlarged cross sectional View taken along the plane 88 of Figure 2.

As shown on the drawings:

Briefly this invention comprises a cro stripper of elongated box-like configuration rotatably mounted on a side delivery rake adjacent the rotating raking cyinder of such rake. The crop stripper is provided with circumferentially spaced, longitudinally extending radial vanes which pass closely adjacent the raking teeth of the raking cylinder to strip the crop from the raking teeth of the rake cylinder. A belt drive from the raking cylinder to the crop stripper ffects rotation of such crop stripper and by suitable selection of pulleys, the crop stripper is rotated at a substantially higher rate of speed than the raking cylinder so that the vanes on the crop stripper will repeatedly pass adjacent to the raking teeth as they ar carried past the stripper to insur that the crop may be efficiently and cleanly stripped therefrom. g z

There is shown in Figure 1 a side delivery rake ill of the type with which the crop stripper of this invention may be utilized, comprising a generally oval'shaped horizontal frame ii of angle iron wich is open at the front side. The frame i l is supported at its rear end by a plurality of wheels pivotally mounted on brackets Ha.

An inverted U-shaped tubular raking cylinder support !2 is secured to frame it in upstanding relation and is also diagonally arranged on such frame. A raking cylinder or drum i3 is rotatably mounted between the vertical legs of support l2, and comprises a pair of spaced end wheels or discs it respectively mounted on stub axles i5 horizontally secured to the respective vertical ends of tubular support 82. Each axle angularly disposed with respect to the longitudinal axis of frame ll so that the wheels ii are in a non-parallel relationship to such axis but are parallel to one another as best shown in Figure 1. Both end wheels 14 are identical and each includes a belt groove portion Ma and a plurality of integral radially projecting, circumferentially spaced arms ll. A pivot hub it is formed on the end of each arm 57. A tubular rake toothbar [8 having flattened ends i9 is pivotally secured to corresponding hubs it of wheels 14 we bolt 20, such bars thus defining the raking cylinder l3. A plurality of conveniii is A pair of arcuately formed, forwardly converging carrying frame members 23 and 24 are secured to bottom frame I I and vertical frame support I2 substantially transversely of such frames. Carrying member 23 is secured to the rear end of frame I I by a plate 25 welded to the bottom end of brace 23 and in turn bolted to frame I I by bolts 26. Carrying frame 23 curves upwardly over vertical support I2 and i suitably secured thereto and then extends downwardly to a point in advance of frame II. Carrying frame 24 is of similar shape and is secured to the frame i l and support frame I2 in a similar manner. The forward ends of each carrying frame 23 and. (24 are of reduced section and a horizontal outwardly projecting pin 28 is secured within a transverse aperture (not shown) on the forward endo'f each such sections by welding. A strap 21 is mounted on each pin 28 and uch straps ar bent inwardly and upwardly and the top portions secured together to define an A-sha'ped frame best shown in Figure 3. The .pins 28 and an aperture 27a in the top portions of strap '27 are utilized to perinit connection of the implement to any tractor having the well-known three link implement hitch. A pair of braces 23a and E la. secured respectively at one end 'to carrying members 23 and 24 by bolts 23b and 24b are bent inwardly to join A-frame "21,, such braces being secured thereto by a transverse bolt 21b to vertically support such A-frame.

A depending bracket 29 is transversely secured to .the forward end of 'braces and 24, preferably by welding. Bracket T2'9 supports a shaft in a suitable bearing 31. the .poWer-take-o'if shaft '32 of the tractor (not shown) by a universal (joint 33. A pulley is provided near the rear 'end of shaft '38 and a belt 35 drivingly-connects pulley 35 with the left hand end wheel T4 .of raking cylinder I3. Thus Shaft is connected to the power of "the tradtor is utilized to rotate the raking cylinder I3.

Forwardly or raking cylinder l'3 there is rotata'bly mounted on bottom frame H and vertical support I2 a crop stripping cylinder A vertically disposed plate "31 is welded to the right end of frame TI a'sviewed inFigures l and '2 .and one end of a shaft 38 is horizontally journ'al'ed in such plate by a bearing 39. The other end of shaft 38 is journaled a bearing 49 secured to the bottom "of 'a vertical angle iron arm 1! by bolts 32. The top Mb of arm 4% is bent to extend over "the top support I2 and is secured by bolts l-Ic'to a bracket 4m welded to support I2. A third carrying "member 43 provided near the'right endof frame It is vertically mounted on frame 5 l by aplate member 43'aWelded to the foot of carrying 'member '43 and secured to frame II "by bolts "43%). Carryin member '53 is bent forwardly and connected to "bracket 4m by the bolts il'c utilized'to s'eourearm'fiI thereto. A bracket ila issecured to the rear of "carrying member 43 to pivotally support a wheel *65.

The cro stripping "cylinder '36'rnay be conveniently fabricated as a sheetmetal*box 4-4 of built-up construction. Each'side 'of the'b'ox '44 is constructed of a rectangular piece of "sheet are placed together-to form the box "44 .in the manner indicated in Figure 8 the bentre'dges vare Such from :the .-raking 4 contiguous and such junctures are spot welded together. The bent edges 45a and 4519, upon assembly, extend longitudinally of the box to define radially projecting vanes, while the trailing edges 45c extend tangentially of the rotational path of the stripping element.

A plurality of square plate-like spiders 48 are placed in spaced relationship inside of box 44. Each of such spiders is provided with diagonally opposed bent ears 43a which respectively engage the sides of box 44. An axial aperture 49 is provided in each spider 48 and shaft 38 passes through such apertures whereby the spiders 43 support shaft '38 axially of box 44. Bolts 50 disposed transversely between two opposed sides of box 44 likewise pass through respective ears 48a shaft 38 to secure box 44 to shaft 38 and further to insure that box 44 retains its shape even when rapidly rotating. The extreme left end of stripper 35 as viewed in Figures 1 and 2 is of conical configuration as shown at 5|. Substantially the same "type of construction as described for box 44 is utilized in form-ing conical end portion 5!. Inasmuch as the crop is moved "towards the right by the raking cylinder, the conical portion 5i of stripper 3'8 eliminates surfaces that would tend to catch and wind up the crop.

On'the end of shaft 3-3 which projects through bearing 39, there is mounted 'a -pu'lley 52. A belt 53 connects *pulley 52 with the belt groove I4a-of right hand wheel in, whereby pulley 52 is driven to effect rotation of crop stripper 36. Pulley 52 is of substantially smaller diameter than pulley groove i la so that crop stripper 38 rotates faster "than raking 'cy-li-nder I8. Belt 53 is properly aligned with pulley 52 and with wheel I 4 by a pair of opposed spaced idler pulleys 5d and 55. Idler pulley '54 is rotatably mounted on a shaft 56 supported by a vertically disposed bracket '57 Welded to'the top of frame I I, while idler "pulley is rotatablylnounted on *a-shaft 58 supported by a depending brac'ket ""59 welded to the underside --of frame -'-'I 'I opposite bracket 5?. It should be noted that the describedconstruction permits the two end wheels I 4- ofthe =raisingcylinder to be of identicalconstruction.

Crop stripper 35 ismountedadjacent the raking. cylinder 13 :so that the trailing edges 4'! of van'es just clear the raking 'teeth 2 i as such stripper rotates. Thus, the shaft "-38 :of stripper 36 is substantially parallel ''to the axis of raking cylinder 1&3 when viewed ina'ver tical plane. The horizontal .axis :of crop stripper :36 however, diverges from the axis of the raking cylinder. I displacement-of the axis of stripper ilfi provideszniore clearance :at the right hand end of suchzstripper relative to the-cylinder hence there will :be no interference :of the stripper with the crop deposited in a :windrow at the right end thereof.

In the operation of the side :delivery-rake, the raking cylinder I 3 .is.driv,en from the power-takeoif shaft 32 through-the. medium .of belt 35. R0- tation .of cylinder f 3 .rotates the right hand end wheel 14 thereby .rotating the crop stripping cylinder 36. "The raking cylinder I3 is .rotated 1n such a direction that'the raking .bars T8 .move upwardly "past the crop stripping cylinder 36 wh le the stripping cylinder 36 is rotated so that trailing edges "45c pass "downwardly along the raking teeth 2I, whereby the crop is stripped cylinder :and forced to the ground, Figure 6 best illustrating-this relationship. :It will; be :noted: thattthe rperipherieszof the rotational paths; of cthemaking cylinder I3 and the stripping element 36 substantially meet or coincide at a point on the discharge side of the teeth path, and the stripping element tangential surfaces 450 are substantially parallel to the teeth at this discharge point to effectively strip the crop from the teeth. Since the cylinder l3 and the stripping element 36 are travelling in opposite directions at the discharge point, the velocity of the raking teeth relative to the stripping element is increased and eifective stripping action is further enhanced.

It will thus be apparent from the above description that there is here provided an unusually simple yet efficient crop stripper which does not interfere in any mannerv with the rapidly rotating tooth bars of the raking cylinder of a side delivery rake. The light but sturdy construction of the crop stripper permits such stripper to be rapidly rotated the same direction as that in which the cylinder is rotated, so that the rake teeth 2| and the element surfaces 450 are travelling in opposite directions at the discharge point to more effectively strip the crop from the raking cylinder without excessive consumption of power. This crop stripper is readily mounted on any side delivery rake and by utilizing identical end wheels for the raking cylinder equipped with pulley grooves the power drive therefore is very conveniently obtained from the tractor powertake-off shaft.

It will, of course, be understood that various details of construction may be varied through 'a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention and it is, therefore, not the purpose to limit the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

, 1. In combination with a side delivery rake having a frame and a raking cylinder mounted in the frame for rotation about a horizontal axis, first drive means operatively connected to said cylinder for rotating said cylinder, an elongated stripping element mounted on said frame adjacent said raking cylinder for rotation about an axis laterally aligned with said axis of said cylinder, the rotational axis of said element bein inclined upwardly relative to the axis of the raking cylinder in a direction toward the discharge end of the raking cylinder, second drive means driven by said first drive means and operatively connected to said element for rotating said elementand longitudinally extending radially projecting vanes on said element adapted to engage any portions of the crop clinging to said raking cylinder to strip such crop portions therefrom.

2. In a side delivery rake, a raking cylinder rotatable about a horizontal axis and having a plurality of circumferentially spaced raking teeth each movable in a rotational path and pivotally mcunted'so as to depend from the cylinder in a vertical plane during rotation of the cylinder, a crop stripping element rotatable about an axis generally parallel to the rotational axis of said cylinder, said stripping element having opposing radial projections terminating in end surfaces lying normal to said projections so as to extend tangentially to the rotational path of said projections, and drive means operatively connected to said cylinder and to said stripping element, respectively, for rotating said cylinder and said stripping element in the same direction with said teeth and said element end surf-aces travelling in tion during rotation thereof and lying in a plane substantially tangential to the rotational path of the cylinder at a discharge point on said rakin path, a crop stripping element rotatable about an axis substantially horizontally aligned with said teeth discharge point, said stripping element including radially projecting axially extending projections having portions lying normal thereto to provide outer surfaces defining the periphery of the rotational path of said stripping element, and drive means operatively connected to said cylinder and said stripping element, respectively, for rotating said cylinder and said stripping element in the same direction, with the rotational paths of said teeth and said tangential projection surfaces substantially coinciding at said discharge point, whereby said surfaces are efiective to strip a crop from said teeth.

4. In a side delivery rake, a raking cylinder rotatable in a cylindroidal path and having vertically extending raking teeth movable through elliptical paths and each effective to elevate a mowed crop from the ground to a circumferentially spaced discharge point, a crop stripper rotatable about an axis radially spaced from and aligned with said discharge points and having a axially extending radial projections movable through a cylindrical path to substantially contact each of said teeth at their respective discharge points, and drive means operatively con-.- nected to said cylinder and said stripper, respectively, for rotating said cylinder and said stripper so that said projections travel in ',a direction counter to and along the lengths of said teeth to strip the crop from said teeth at said discharge points.

5. In a side delivery rake having a frame, a raking cylinder rotatably mounted on the frame, drive means operatively connected to said cylinder for driving the same, and crop-engaging teeth carried by said cylinder, the improvements comprising a stripping element rotatably mounted on the frame adjacent said raking cylinder, a plurality of longitudinally extending, radially projecting vanes formed on said stripping element and having substantially tangentially disposed trailing edges arranged to pass in close proximity to a portion of the rotary path of said rake teeth, and drive means operatively connected to said stripping element to rotate the same in a direction in which said rake teeth and said stripping element vane edges travel in opposing directions to said portion of said rake teeth rotary path to strip off any portions of the crop clinging to said rake teeth.

CLARENCE B. RICHEY.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,251,373 I-Ioleman Dec. 25, 1917 1,371,410 'Clausen Mar. 15, 1921 1,662,160 Myrick Mar. 13, 1928 2,388,212 McElhoe et a1 Oct. 30, 1945. 

